It’s a huge game between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots, a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship with Super Bowl winners Denver in danger of missing the play-offs this season, but it’s not the only important action this week:
Detroit Lions (9-4) at New York Giants (9-4), Sunday night, 10pm
A match-up of two of the most surprising teams in the NFC, but two who cannot afford let up now. Right behind Detroit in the North are the surging Green Bay Packers and reeling Minnesota Vikings. The Giants are currently the NFC’s No 5 seed, but they have an outside shot of winning the East should they keep winning and the Dallas Cowboys slip up.
Tennessee Titans (7-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (10-3), Sunday night, 10pm
The AFC South ostensibly comes down to the Houston Texans (7-6 with a home game with the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars) or the Titans, one of the league’s most surprising teams and coming off a win over the Denver Broncos. With Houston currently holding the tie-breaker and only three weeks left, Sunday’s tough test at the Kansas City Chiefs – who are playing for both the AFC West and top overall seed – might be a must-win for upstart Tennessee.
New England Patriots (11-2) at Denver Broncos (8-5), Monday morning, 1.25am
Denver will have to run a ludicrous gauntlet while trying to hang on to the final play-off seed: three games with the Patriots, Chiefs and Oakland Raiders to finish the year. Those are only the three best teams in the conference. The Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee and Houston are lurking right behind, ready to grab the No 6 seed should the Broncos slide.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) at Dallas Cowboys (11-2), Monday morning, 5.30am
Tampa Bay are the hottest team in the league, and their defence has become a force. That is not good news for the Cowboys, who are coming off their worst offensive showing of the season last week in their second loss to the Giants. If Dallas hope to lock up the NFC’s top seed, they will have to do what no team have done since November 4 – beat the Bucs.
Cleveland Browns (0-13) at Buffalo Bills (6-7), Sunday night, 10pm
The Bills have to win out to have a shot at the play-offs. The Browns have to win out to match last season’s 3-13 record. Browns v Bills: the game America deserves.
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